Message Eleven Experiencing Christ as the Peace Offering for the Body of Christ

Transcription

1 Lev 3:1 Lev 3:2 Lev 3:3 Lev 3:4 Lev 3:5 Message Eleven Experiencing Christ as the Peace Offering for the Body of Christ Scripture Reading: Lev. 3:1-5; Rom. 15:33; John 14:27; Eph. 2:14-17; 4:3; Col. 1:20-22; 3:15 Rom 15:33 John 14:27 Eph 2:16 Eph 2:17 Col 1:21 Col 1:22 And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he presents it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall present it without blemish before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on and around the altar. And from the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah, the fat that covers the inward parts and all the fat that is on the inward parts, And the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins; and the appendage on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire; it is an offering by fire, a satisfying fragrance to Jehovah. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, And might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. And coming, He announced peace as the gospel to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near, And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. And you, though once alienated and enemies in your mind because of your evil works, He now has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and without reproach before Him; And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. I. The Triune God is a God of peace Rom. 15:33; 2 Thes. 3:16; Gal. 5:22: Rom 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. 2 Thes 3:16 Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace continually in every way. The Lord be with you all. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, A. God is the God of peace Rom. 15:33; 1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 13:20: Rom 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. 1 Thes 5:23 And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, He who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, in the blood of an eternal covenant, 1. Our Father is the God of peace, who has a peaceful life with a peaceful nature Rom. 15:33; 1 Thes. 5:23. Rom 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. 1 Thes 5:23 And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 5:1. Rom 5:1 Therefore having been justified out of faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 105

2 3. The peace we enjoy is God Himself John 14:27; Phil. 4:7, 9. John 14:27 Phil 4:7 Phil 4:9 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. And the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you. B. The New Testament speaks about both the peace of God and the God of peace; the peace of God and the God of peace are actually one Phil. 4:7; Heb. 13:20. Phil 4:7 Heb 13:20 And the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Now the God of peace, He who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, in the blood of an eternal covenant, C. The peace of God is the God of peace infused into us through our fellowship with Him Rom. 16:20; Phil. 4:9; John 14:27. Rom 16:20 Phil 4:9 John 14:27 Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. The things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace will be with you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. D. In the world we have affliction, but in Christ we have peace 16:33: John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but take courage; I have overcome the world. 1. Our heart is troubled because we are in the world, and the way for this trouble to be resolved is for us to enter into Christ by believing into Him 14:1. John 14:1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe into God, believe also into Me. 2. In 16:33 there are two realms: the physical realm (the world), where all the troubles are, and the divine and mystical realm of the pneumatic Christ, where the peace is. John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but take courage; I have overcome the world. II. Due to man s fall, among mankind there are many ordinances, customs, habits, and ways to live and worship, all of which have divided, scattered, and confused mankind; there are partitions between every nationality and race, and thus among the human race there is no peace, only enmity, discord, and war Eph. 2:14-15; cf. Psa. 46:9; Isa. 2:4; 9:6-7; 11:6-9; Micah 4:3; Zech. 9:10. Psa 46:9 Isa 2:4 Isa 9:6 Isa 9:7 Isa 11:6 For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, He makes wars cease unto the end of the earth; / He breaks the bow and cuts the spear to pieces; / He burns the war wagons with fire. And He will judge between the nations, / And will decide matters for many peoples. / And they will beat their swords into plowshares, / And their spears into pruning knives; / Nation will not lift up sword against nation, / Nor will they learn war anymore. For a child is born to us, / A Son is given to us; / And the government / Is upon His shoulder; / And His name will be called / Wonderful Counselor, / Mighty God, / Eternal Father, / Prince of Peace. To the increase of His government / And to His peace there is no end, / Upon the throne of David / And over His kingdom, / To establish it / And to uphold it / In justice and righteousness / From now to eternity. / The zeal of Jehovah of hosts / Will accomplish this. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb; / And the leopard will lie down with the kid, / And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; / And a young boy will lead them about. 106

3 Isa 11:7 Isa 11:8 Isa 11:9 Micah 4:3 Zech 9:10 The cow and the bear will graze; / Their young will lie down together; / And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the cobra's hole, / And upon the viper's den / The weaned child will stretch his hand. They will not harm nor destroy / In all My holy mountain, / For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah, / As water covers the sea. And He will judge between many peoples / And will decide matters for numerous nations from afar. / And they will beat their swords into plowshares / And their spears into pruning knives; / Nation will not lift up sword against nation, / Nor will they learn war anymore. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim / And the horse from Jerusalem, / And the battle bow will be cut off; / And He will speak peace unto the nations, / And His dominion will be from sea to sea / And from the River unto the ends of the earth. III. Because there can be no peace in the universe without Christ, the Peacemaker, we need Christ as our peace offering Eph. 2:14-15; Col. 1:20; Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-38: For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle Lev 3:1 Lev 3:2 Lev 3:3 Lev 3:4 Lev 3:5 Lev 3:6 Lev 3:7 Lev 3:8 Lev 3:9 Lev 3:10 Lev 3:11 Lev 3:12 Lev 3:13 Lev 3:14 Lev 3:15 Lev 3:16 Lev 3:17 Lev 7:11 Lev 7:12 wall of partition, the enmity, Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he presents it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall present it without blemish before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on and around the altar. And from the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah, the fat that covers the inward parts and all the fat that is on the inward parts, And the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins; and the appendage on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire; it is an offering by fire, a satisfying fragrance to Jehovah. And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to Jehovah is from the flock, he shall present it, male or female, without blemish. If he presents a lamb for his offering, then he shall present it before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood on and around the altar. And from the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah, its fat, the entire fat tail which he shall remove close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the inward parts and all the fat that is on the inward parts, And the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins; and the appendage on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. And the priest shall burn it on the altar; it is the food of the offering by fire to Jehovah. And if his offering is a goat, then he shall present it before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood on and around the altar. And from it he shall present his offering, as an offering by fire to Jehovah, the fat that covers the inward parts and all the fat that is on the inward parts, And the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins; and the appendage on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. And the priest shall burn them on the altar; it is the food of the offering by fire for a satisfying fragrance; all the fat is Jehovah's. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places that you shall not eat any fat or any blood. Now this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one shall present to Jehovah: If he presents it for a thanksgiving, then he shall present with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil and unleavened wafers anointed with oil and saturated cakes of fine flour mingled with oil. 107

4 Lev 7:13 Lev 7:14 Lev 7:15 Lev 7:16 Lev 7:17 Lev 7:18 Lev 7:19 Lev 7:20 Lev 7:21 Lev 7:22 Lev 7:23 Lev 7:24 Lev 7:25 Lev 7:26 Lev 7:27 Lev 7:28 Lev 7:29 Lev 7:30 Lev 7:31 Lev 7:32 Lev 7:33 Lev 7:34 Lev 7:35 Lev 7:36 Lev 7:37 Lev 7:38 With cakes of leavened bread he shall present his offering with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving. And from it he shall present one out of each offering as a heave offering to Jehovah; it shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he presents his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten; But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten at all on the third day, it will not be accepted, neither will it be reckoned to the one who presents it; it will be an abomination, and the person who eats of it shall bear his own iniquity. And flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burned with fire. And as for other flesh, anyone who is clean may eat such flesh. But the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which belong to Jehovah, with his uncleanness upon him, that person shall be cut off from his people. And when anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man or an unclean beast or any unclean abomination, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which belong to Jehovah, that person shall be cut off from his people. Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, You shall not eat any fat of an ox or of a sheep or of a goat. And the fat of an animal that dies and the fat of an animal which is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but you shall by no means eat it. For whoever eats the fat of a beast from which someone presents an offering by fire to Jehovah, indeed the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people. And you shall not eat any blood, either of bird or of beast, in any of your dwelling places. Any person who eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people. Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, He who presents the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Jehovah shall bring his offering to Jehovah out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. His own hands shall bring Jehovah's offerings by fire; the fat with the breast he shall bring, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before Jehovah. And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and for his sons. And the right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. The one among the sons of Aaron who presents the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh as his portion. For the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons for a perpetual statute to be observed by the children of Israel. This is the anointing portion of Aaron and the anointing portion of his sons, from Jehovah's offerings by fire, in the day when he presented them to serve Jehovah as priests, Which Jehovah commanded to be given them from the children of Israel in the day that He anointed them. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout their generations. This is the law of the burnt offering and of the meal offering and of the sin offering and of the trespass offering and of the consecration and of the sacrifice of peace offerings, Which Jehovah commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that He commanded the children of Israel to present their offerings to Jehovah in the wilderness of Sinai. A. The peace offering typifies Christ as the Peacemaker 3:1-5; Eph. 2:15. Lev 3:1 Lev 3:2 Lev 3:3 And if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he presents it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall present it without blemish before Jehovah. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on and around the altar. And from the sacrifice of peace offerings he shall present an offering by fire to Jehovah, the fat that covers the inward parts and all the fat that is on the inward parts, 108

5 Lev 3:4 Lev 3:5 And the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is on the loins; and the appendage on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire; it is an offering by fire, a satisfying fragrance to Jehovah. Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, B. As the fulfillment and the reality of the type of the peace offering, Christ is our peace; through Him and in Him we have peace with God and with one another v. 14; Col. 3:15; 1 Thes. 5:13b. For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. 1 Thes 5:13b Be at peace among yourselves. C. Apart from Christ we cannot have peace with God or with others; we can have such peace only through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ Rom. 5:1; 12:18. Rom 5:1 Rom 12:18 Therefore having been justified out of faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ, If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all men. D. In the Body life and for the Body life, we need Christ as our peace Eph. 2:14; 4:3; Col. 3:15. For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. IV. Christ is the peace offering for the Body of Christ as revealed in Ephesians 2:14: For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, A. Christ, who accomplished full redemption for both the Jewish and the Gentile believers, is Himself our peace, our harmony: 1. When Christ was crucified as the peace offering, His death abolished, annulled, the different ordinances of human life and religion vv For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, 2. The differences among the races and the differences of social rank have been abolished. 3. By Christ s abolishing in His flesh the separating ordinances, that is, by His slaying the enmity, and by His creating the Jewish and the Gentile believers into one new man, peace was made between all believers. 4. In one Body both the Jews and the Gentiles were reconciled to God through the cross; we were reconciled to God not only for the Body of Christ but also in the Body of Christ v. 16. Eph 2:16 And might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. 5. Peace is possible only when everything contrary to God s economy has been terminated Col. 1:20; 2:14-15; 3:15. And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. 109

6 Col 2:14 Col 2:15 Wiping out the handwriting in ordinances, which was against us, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Stripping off the rulers and the authorities, He made a display of them openly, triumphing over them in it. And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. 6. Through the blood of Christ we have been brought near both to God and to God s people Eph. 2:13, Eph 2:13 Eph 2:18 Eph 2:19 But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near in the blood of Christ. For through Him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, B. In resurrection Christ came as the Spirit to preach peace as the gospel; the Christ who died as the Peacemaker, shedding His blood in order to reconcile us to God, came to us as the life-giving Spirit, even as the preaching Spirit, to preach the gospel of peace v. 17; Col. 1:20; 1 Cor. 15:45b; 2 Cor. 3:17a; John 20:19, 21, 26; 14:27; 16:33. Eph 2:17 And coming, He announced peace as the gospel to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near, And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. 1 Cor 15:45b the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. 2 Cor 3:17a And the Lord is the Spirit; John 20:19 John 20:21 John 20:26 John 14:27 John 16:33 When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, Peace be to you. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And after eight days, His disciples were again within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors were shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but take courage; I have overcome the world. C. In the Body life we should keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace Eph. 4:3: 1. Christ abolished on the cross all the differences among mankind due to ordinances, and in so doing, He made peace for His Body; this peace should bind all believers together and thus become the uniting bond of peace 2:15; 4:3. Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, 2. If we remain on the cross in our practice of the church life, the peace that Christ made on the cross will become the uniting bond in which we keep the oneness of the Spirit Matt. 16:24; Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:15; 4:3. Matt 16:24 Rom 6:6 Gal 2:20 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin as slaves; I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, 110

7 3. The uniting bars of the tabernacle signify the mingled spirit the divine Spirit mingled with the regenerated human spirit to become the uniting bond of peace; in our experience the uniting bond of peace is the cooperation of our spirit with the uniting Spirit, the crossing Spirit Exo. 26:26-29; Eph. 4:3. Exo 26:26 Exo 26:27 Exo 26:28 Exo 26:29 And you shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward. And the middle bar shall pass through in the center of the boards from end to end. And you shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold as holders for the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold. D. In order to engage in spiritual warfare, we need to have our feet shod with the firm foundation, the establishing, of the gospel of peace 6:11, 14-15: Eph 6:11 Eph 6:14 Eph 6:15 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness And having shod your feet with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace; 1. Christ made peace for us, with both God and man, on the cross, and this peace has become our gospel 2: Eph 2:13 Eph 2:16 Eph 2:17 But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near in the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, He who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, Abolishing in His flesh the law of the commandments in ordinances, that He might create the two in Himself into one new man, so making peace, And might reconcile both in one Body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it. And coming, He announced peace as the gospel to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near, 2. This gospel of peace has been established as a firm foundation with which our feet may be shod; being thus shod, we will have a firm footing so that we may stand to fight the spiritual warfare 6:11, Eph 6:11 Eph 6:14 Eph 6:15 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness And having shod your feet with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace; E. Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16:20: 1. God promises that He will crush Satan under the feet of those who live the church life, showing that the crushing of Satan is related to the church life v. 20. Rom 16:20 Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 2. Dealing with Satan is a Body matter, not an individual matter Eph. 6: Eph 6:10 Eph 6:11 Eph 6:12 Eph 6:13 Eph 6:14 Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness 111

8 Eph 6:15 Eph 6:16 Eph 6:17 Eph 6:18 And having shod your feet with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace; Besides all these, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which Spirit is the word of God, By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints, 3. It is only when we have a proper local church as the practical expression of the Body that Satan is crushed under our feet Rom. 16:1, 4, 20. Rom 16:1 Rom 16:4 Rom 16:20 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church which is in Cenchrea, Who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. V. Christ is the peace offering for the Body of Christ as revealed in Colossians 1:8, 20-22; 2:19; 3:15: Col 1:8 Col 1:21 Col 1:22 Col 2:19 Who also has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. And you, though once alienated and enemies in your mind because of your evil works, He now has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and without reproach before Him; And not holding the Head, out from whom all the Body, being richly supplied and knit together by means of the joints and sinews, grows with the growth of God. And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. A. For God to reconcile all things to Himself is to make peace unto Himself for all things; this was accomplished through the blood of the cross of Christ 1:20. And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. B. We have been called to the peace of Christ in one Body 3:15. And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. C. No one who is independent of the Body has real peace; dependence on the Body brings in genuine peace Gal. 6:16. Gal 6:16 And as many as walk by this rule, peace be upon them and mercy, even upon the Israel of God. D. For the Body life we need to allow the peace of Christ to arbitrate, to adjust, and to decide all things in our hearts in our relationship with the members of His Body Col. 3:15: And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. 1. The Greek word for arbitrate can be rendered umpire, preside, be enthroned as a ruler and decider of everything. 2. If we allow the peace of Christ to arbitrate in our hearts, this peace will settle all the disputes among us; then we will have peace with God vertically and with the saints horizontally 1:20; 3:15. And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross ªthrough Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. 3. Through the arbitration of the peace of Christ, our problems are solved, and the 112

9 friction between the members of the Body disappears; then the church life is preserved in oneness and sweetness vv ; Rom. 12:4-5, 18; 14:19; Heb. 12:14. Col 3:12 Col 3:13 Col 3:14 Rom 12:4 Rom 12:5 Rom 12:18 Rom 14:19 Heb 12:14 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, inward parts of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, long-suffering; Bearing one another and forgiving one another, if anyone should have a complaint against anyone; even as the Lord forgave you, so also should you forgive. And over all these things put on love, which is the uniting bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful. For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, So we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all men. So then let us pursue the things of peace and the things for building up one another. Pursue peace with all men and sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord; 4. The arbitrating peace of Christ is Christ working within us to exercise His rule over us, to speak the last word, and to make the final decision cf. Isa. 9:6-7. Isa 9:6 Isa 9:7 For a child is born to us, / A Son is given to us; / And the government / Is upon His shoulder; / And His name will be called / Wonderful Counselor, / Mighty God, / Eternal Father, / Prince of Peace. To the increase of His government / And to His peace there is no end, / Upon the throne of David / And over His kingdom, / To establish it / And to uphold it / In justice and righteousness / From now to eternity. / The zeal of Jehovah of hosts / Will accomplish this. 5. If we stay under the ruling of the enthroned peace of Christ, we will not offend others or damage them; rather, by the Lord s grace and with His peace, we will minister life to others. 6. In the church life we need to be at peace in everything, in every way, and with everyone; for this we need the Lord of peace to give us peace continually in every way Heb. 12:14; 1 Thes. 5:13; 2 Thes. 3:16; Rom. 12:18; 14:19; Mark 9:50; 2 Tim. 2:22; James 3:18; Matt. 5:9. Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all men and sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord; 1 Thes 5:13 And to regard them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 2 Thes 3:16 Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace continually in every way. The Lord be with you all. Rom 12:18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all men. Rom 14:19 So then let us pursue the things of peace and the things for building up one another. Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you restore its saltiness? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. 2 Tim 2:22 But flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those James 3:18 Matt 5:9 who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. 113